Bali jails Swiss tourist for insulting sacred Day of Silence

A Swiss tourist has been sentenced to one year in prison for insulting a sacred religious event on Indonesia's holiday island of Bali.

In a now-removed video, Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, 26, had filmed himself walking to an empty beach during the Hindu holiday of Nyepi, describing the scene as "crazy".

He was arrested in March after the video sparked widespread anger among Balinese on social media.

Nyepi, also known as the Day of Silence, is an annual holiday during which the usually bustling tourist island goes quiet, as people stay home and refrain from making loud noises. The restrictions apply to everyone on the island regardless of religion, including tourists.

On Nyepi, the island's airport shuts down and internet access is cut.

Entertainment events are restricted and even the use of electricity is discouraged.

Residents typically stock up on groceries ahead of Nyepi so they can stay at home during the holiday.

On Nyepi, which fell on 19 March this year, Zgraggen filmed himself breaking the ban on going out, in an Instagram post captioned with expletives, local media reported.